"Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me" (Psalm 42:7).
This is a prayer week for me, a spiritual journey. I am down South at our favourite camp site by the sea. There are others here but my week has been almost entirely with Jesus and Father God and dear Holy Spirit.
I have been diagnosed with another cancer. Not melanoma this time, (I have had four of those). Cancer of my prostate. It is scary. (We have been told that I have been assigned an excellent medical team and that my prognosis is good).
Jesus is always able to make things work for our good (Romans 8:28). With this news Trish and my marriage has become sweeter, more tender, and our family have become closer. I know that I am loved, we all do. This is very precious.
My prayer friends from all the different groups are being very loving too. Trouble brings people closer, especially Christians, our relationships deepen, we bless one another with our love and prayer.
One friend, Betty, helped greatly; she sent me some teaching videos where a quarter century of new medical discoveries are linked to eternal Scriptural truths. (See Note 1).
This week, praying for myself, (rather than for others, or for the church, our leaders or the nations), has been really great. I have discovered a big area of laziness in my life; I have let anger and unforgiveness take root and build up in my soul; in my mind, will and emotions. Not good.
Praise Jesus who ".. appeared in order to take away sins .." (1 John 3:5), and ".. appeared to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). I have whole days with our lovely Jesus to review my life, I found that I have been harbouring toxic thoughts. I have not thought about "toxic thoughts" for years, rather, I was believing that I was becoming more settled and peaceful. (We are deceived in our deceptions (James 1:16)).
Recent Science
Fear, anxiety, unforgiveness, bitterness, self-hatred, low self-esteem, guilt, jealousy, envy, anger, rage, and resentment are now referred to in the medical field as "toxic thinking patterns" because they are known to cause disease. Experiencing trauma or betrayal can also cause disease in humans. The mind-body connection is real. What and how we think affects our body, our brain, nervous system, immune system, organs and internal chemistry, everything. This is accepted science, not simply Christian belief. Toxic thinking patterns also affect our spirit; the spirit-mind-body connection is also real; this is not accepted science, but is well proven in Christian studies.
The Bible calls these toxic thinking patterns sin. Therefore what medical science has recently proven is that, much of the time, disease is a consequence of sin; particularly sin in our thought life.
So I have been thinking about my thoughts about life and the world, about my anger and my deep disappointments at legal and societal changes over the past few years. And about my fears for our children, grandchildren and their entire generations in the years to come.
I pray. I search my heart and my memory and repent. I forgive. Then I pray.
Again .. I pray. I repent. I search my heart and I forgive. Again I pray.
Praise Jesus for this beautiful peaceful place with the trees and the sea. I can feel the weight lifting off me, feel the rust and corrosion leaching away.
(At a prayer meeting here on a New Years Eve many years ago someone pointed out that these Christian campgrounds are saturated in prayer; the people who look after the camps pray for all of us who camp here, day after day and week after week, and have done for more than 30 years).
There is a sweet old song, I remember very few words .. "O how He loves me .."
What a great afternoon, such wonderful
company, most of our family and Merci’s family came, and we enjoyed a great
feast. (Jude (6), and Hamish (4) each had three helpings of the yummy berry, meringue,
ice cream and chocolate dessert I brought, I was thrilled!) We all took turns
cuddling the babies, and the conversations and laughter never stopped. That we
all know Jesus' love added such a glow to the afternoon ..And on top of it all, Peter and Merci gave Trish and me a dozen fresh laid eggs from their chickens!
Be Doers
The Bible says that we are to "be doers of the Word" (Proverbs 4:20–23; James 1:22); to be obedient to what God asks of us. I believe that obedience is more beautiful than anointing.
Jesus tells us to "forgive others their sins against us, then our Father will forgive our sins" (Matthew 6:14-15); to harbour unforgiveness is not "doing the Word". We have been told this before, right?
Jesus also tells us to "fear not" (Matthew 10:31; 14:27), and "do not worry or be anxious" (Luke 12:11,22), so when we live with fear, worry or anxiety we are being disobedient. Yes?
So I pray. I search my heart and my memories and then repent and forgive. Then I pray some more.
And the cancer? We will see what becomes of that, and of all my other aches and pains and complaints.
Happily, we are certain that "God is love" (1 John 4:16) and, by grace, His love flows to us, each one. Our heavenly Abba Father sent His Son Jesus to die and pay for our sins, for our redemption and our life (John 3:16), and I am eternally grateful.
Praise Jesus. Hallelujah!
Favourite Scriptures
"I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, my soul knows it full well" (Psalm 139:14).
"My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:20-24).
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22).
".. brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 4:8).
"Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul" (3 John 1:2).
Amen.
Note 1: For many years I have been blessed to hear, see, read and discuss with others, lovely committed Christian teachers whom I find sound in Scripture, theology, science and life-experience. Amongst these are: John Yates (www.cross-connect.net.au), Derek Prince (www.derekprince.com), Francis Frangipane (www.frangipane.org), Dr Michelle Strydom (www.eagleswings.co.zw), Dr Caroline Leaf (www.drleaf.net), John G. Lake (www.jglm.org) and others, and, with deep gratitude, draw from their teaching.
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